Beneath The Ashes - Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Dinner was surprisingly warm. The boys chatted about their day, tossing playful insults at each other between bites while I quietly soaked it all in.
The food was delicious, and Declan made sure my plate stayed full, quietly nudging the serving dish toward me every time I tried to stop. I caught Zayn smirking at the way Declan hovered, but thankfully, he didn't comment.
As we finished eating, I leaned back in my chair, feeling full and content. That was until Zayn clapped his hands together, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Alright, nerds. Time for a movie."
"A movie?" I perked up.
"Yup." Zayn pushed his chair back and stretched. "C'mon. Everyone to the movie room."
"I'm tired," Jaxon grumbled, though he made no move to stop Zayn from grabbing his arm and hauling him to his feet.
"Shut up. You love movie nights." Zayn smirked and practically dragged him out of the dining room.
The others followed, and I hesitated for a second before trailing behind them. Yesterday we didn't come here,we were watching movie at living room . But this room was massive — of course it was. A huge screen covered most of the far wall, with white reclining seats arranged all facing the screen. There was even a little snack bar in the corner. It looked more like a mini-theater than a living room.
Zayn plopped onto the couch, grabbing the remote and scrolling through the endless list of movies. Vale flopped next to him, while Massimo settled into the armchair with his usual brooding expression. Declan quietly took a seat on the other side of the couch, his eyes already scanning the screen as Zayn flicked past titles. Jaxon dropped onto the couch with a groan, running a hand through his hair. I hesitated before sitting cross-legged on the floor, curling my arms around my knees.
Zayn glanced down at me. "What are you doing down there?"
I smile. "I'm comfy."
He snorted but didn't argue. "Alright. What are we watching?"
The boys immediately started arguing.
"Action," Jaxon said, crossing his arms.
"No. Thriller," Declan countered quietly.
"Romance," Vale teased, earning glares from everyone.
Massimo leaned back, rubbing his jaw. "Something that doesn't make me want to stab myself."
"Wow. High standards," Zayn muttered. He turned toward me. "What about you, Ivy? Got any preferences?"
My mouth opened, but no sound came out. I shifted awkwardly, suddenly very aware of how little I knew about movies.
The last time I'd really watched anything was when I was... what, fifteen? And back then, it was all Disney movies and cheesy rom-coms.
I couldn't exactly suggest those now. I was supposed to be mature. Grown-up. Not some silly little girl.
So I shook my head. "I'm good with whatever. Action, thriller... whatever you guys want."
Zayn blinked. "That's boring. You've gotta pick."
"I-I really don't mind," I insisted, forcing a smile. "I'll like anything."
Massimo narrowed his eyes. "Ivy." His voice was quiet, but it carried the weight of someone who wasn't used to being ignored. "What do you really want to watch?"
I squirmed under his gaze. "I... um..." My face heated, and I stared at my hands. "Spiderman."
The room went silent.
Zayn blinked. "Wait. Spiderman?"
I bit my lip. "Y-Yeah. I always loved Spiderman. The swinging, the city views... It's just... fun."
For a moment, I braced myself for laughter. For teasing. For them to call me childish. But it never came.
"Spiderman it is," Massimo said, surprising me.
Zayn grinned. "Solid choice, Sunshine." He flicked through the options and pressed play.
Throughout the movie, I curled into the couch cushions, sneaking glances at the boys. None of them complained. They didn't roll their eyes or make fun of me. They just... accepted it.
As the movie ended we headed back to our rooms . Sleep pulled me in , I dont ever remember saying goodnight to them, I was out like a light the moment I touched my bed
Morning arrived fast. I found the boys in the kitchen, lounging around the island with mugs in hand. Zayn was munching on toast, Vale was flipping through his phone, and Jaxon was leaning against the counter, looking half-asleep. Declan sat quietly, sipping his coffee, while Massimo stood at the head of the island, arms crossed.
"Good morning," I greeted, giving them a little wave.
Zayn grinned. "Morning, Sunshine."
We all ate our breakfast. Washed our dishes, I was about to go upstairs when a voice stopped me.
Massimo nodded toward me. "Ivy. We need to talk."
My heart skipped a beat. "O-Okay."
He motioned for me to follow him, and the others fell in line behind us. We ended up in Massimo's office, it looked way too intimidating to be in a house. The boys settled into their usual spots while I perched nervously on a chair across from Massimo's desk.
Massimo leaned forward, his dark eyes studying me. "We've been meaning to ask you something."
"Okay..." I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt, glancing around. The room felt heavy, the air thick with unspoken questions.
Massimo exchanged a look with Declan before speaking again. "What's your educational background?"
I blinked. "What?"
"Well," Massimo continued slowly, "you're 21. Either you've gone to college, or you haven't. We just... want to understand."
My stomach twisted, and I felt my face heat. "Oh." My fingers curled into my lap, squeezing tight. "I... I didn't."
They waited, but when I didn't continue, Declan's voice broke the silence. "May I ask Why not?"
I swallowed, my throat tight. "After my dad died... things changed." I kept my gaze fixed on my hands. "I was fifteen. We moved back in with my mom and Marco, and he... he wouldn't let me go to school." My voice was barely a whisper. "I tried to study on my own. There were books in Marco's library, and I'd sneak in to read sometimes. I managed to pick up a few things, but... I never really got the chance."
The silence that followed felt deafening. My heart pounded as I bit my lip, ashamed. I dared to peek up and found all five brothers staring at me, with clenched fists their expressions unreadable.
Then Declan moved. He settled into the chair beside mine, his voice soft but steady. "Do you want to go to college, Ivy?"
My head snapped toward him. "What?"
"Is there a specific field you're interested in?" he asked gently. "Something you'd want to study?"
I blinked at him, completely taken aback. "I... I don't know. I never really thought about it." My hands twisted together. "And It's not like I'd fit in. Everyone would be younger than me. They'd just... make fun of me."
"Not everyone," Zayn chimed in from across the room. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Lots of people take breaks or start college later. It's not something to be ashamed of."
"Besides," Vale added with a smirk, "you wouldn't just be going to any college. You'd be going to the best university in the state. The same one where some of us went to." He winked. "No one's gonna mess with you. Our reputation will make sure of that."
My eyes widened. "Top university?"
Massimo nodded. "Yes." He met my gaze, his voice low and serious. "If you want to go, we'll make it happen."
I stared at them, my heart pounding. "But... the fees. It'll cost so much."
Jaxon scoffed. "Money isn't the problem."
Vale leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Getting you back to the life you deserve is what matters."
Massimo's voice was quiet but firm. "We'll make sure you get everything you missed."
I swallowed hard, tears prickling the corners of my eyes. "You... you'd really do that for me?"
Massimo's gaze softened. "You're our sister."
Warm tears welled up, blurring the five faces in front of me. Massimo, who'd been watching me carefully, frowned.
"Hey..." His voice was softer than I'd ever heard it. "Why are you crying?"
"Sunshine?" Zayn leaned forward, concern flickering across his usually playful face.
"Did these potatoes say something wrong?" Vale added quickly, looking a little panicked.
Declan shifted closer, his eyes narrowing in quiet observation, while Jaxon crossed his arms, brows furrowed. "Talk to us, Ivy."
I sniffled and waved my hands in front of me, trying to lighten the mood. "I'm not crying! It's... I'm just... sweating. Yeah, it's very humid in here." I fanned myself dramatically, forcing a smile, but they weren't buying it.
Zayn snorted. "Nice try. We've got climate control, sunshine."
Massimo crouched in front of me, his intense eyes searching mine. "Ivy." Just my name. Soft. Firm. No room for avoidance.
My bottom lip quivered, and I launched forward, wrapping my arms around Massimo's neck and burying my face in his shoulder.His arms came around me, holding me tightly.
"Thank you," I whispered, voice trembling. "I'll be the best sister ever. I promise."
I felt Massimo's chest rise and fall with a deep breath, his grip on me tightening. "You already are."
The other boys exchanged glances before one by one, they joined the hug.
Zayn squeezed in first, practically climbing over Massimo to wrap his arms around me, while Vale's head landed on my shoulder. Declan's hand rested gently on my back, and Jaxon patted my head awkwardly, muttering, "Don't get sappy on us."
Massimo eventually pulled back, clearing his throat. "Alright, enough emotional stuff." He brushed a tear from my cheek, his tone lighter. "Go get ready."
I blinked at him. "Ready? For what?"
Massimo stood, crossing his arms. "We're taking you out."
My brows knitted. "Out where?"
Zayn wiggled his eyebrows. "To see our world, sunshine."
Massimo nodded. "You've told us about your life... It's only fair we show you ours."
My mouth fell open. "You mean—like, your work?"
"Not all of it," Declan added quietly. "Just a glimpse. One day isn't enough to show you everything."
I looked at each of them in turn, my heart swelling with warmth. They were really letting me in — into their lives, their secrets. I wiped my eyes, nodding fiercely. "Okay."
Vale leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms behind his head with a loud yawn. "Well, before we go anywhere, we should probably clean the warehouse."
The room fell silent.
4 heads snapped toward him, and the air grew thick with tension. Massimo's jaw ticked. Declan's brows furrowed. Zayn let out a sharp breath, rubbing his temple as if Vale had just given him a migraine. Even Jaxon, who usually looked more bored than angry, narrowed his eyes.
I glanced between them, curiosity sparking. "Wait — warehouse?" I tilted my head. "What warehouse? And why does it need cleaning?" I perked up a little. "I can help if you want!"
Zayn choked so hard on air that he doubled over, coughing into his fist. "No! No, absolutely not." He waved his hands frantically. "You can't — I mean, you don't need to help. It's not that kind of warehouse."
I frowned. "What kind of warehouse is it then?"
Zayn opened his mouth, then closed it again, glancing at Massimo for backup. Massimo pinched the bridge of his nose while Declan sighed quietly.
Jaxon muttered under his breath, "This is why we don't let Vale talk."
Zayn rushed to explain. "Just... storage. For...our business." He rubbed the back of his neck, eyes darting away. "We keep... goods there. Stuff we need for work. It gets messy because... sometimes things spill like oil."
"Oil?" I blinked.
"Yes Sunshine" Zayn said quickly, shooting a glare at Vale. "But we're not going to any warehouse."
Vale shifted uncomfortably under Zayn's glare, swallowing hard. "Of course not!" He forced a laugh, waving his hand dismissively. "What I meant was that we'll take you to our towers. You'll like that way more."
"Oh?" I asked, intrigued already forgetting about the weird moment happened minutes ago.
"We own a few buildings downtown," Massimo explained smoothly, casting a sharp look at his brothers to stay quiet. "You'll get to see where we work — the parts we can show you, at least."
That made my heart flutter. They were really letting me in.
Jaxon crouched in front of me, his dark eyes softening slightly. "Don't worry about these idiots." He jerked a thumb at Vale and Zayn, who were now glaring at each other. "You go get ready while they fight it out."
I giggled, feeling lighter than I had in ages. "Okay, but don't kill each other while I'm gone."
"No promises," Jaxon muttered.
As I hurried upstairs, I couldn't stop the smile spreading across my face. Today wasn't just about seeing their world — it felt like I was becoming part of it. Finally.
Third Person POV
As soon as Ivy's footsteps faded up the stairs and the office door clicked shut behind her, the air in the room shifted. The easy banter and warmth from before evaporated, leaving a heavy silence in its place.
Jaxon turned on Vale so fast that his chair scraped loudly against the floor. "Are you fucking dumb?" he snarled, his voice low and dangerous. "Why the hell did you bring up the warehouse in front of her?"
Vale held up his hands defensively. "It slipped, okay???" His usual smirk was nowhere to be seen. "I didn't mean to say it. It just... came out."
Jaxon scoffed, running a hand through his hair. "You don't accidentally bring up the place where we store bodies and contraband like it's some casual weekend hangout."
"Enough." Massimo's voice cut through the tension like a blade. His arms were crossed, eyes dark with disappointment. "We've kept her out of this for a reason. Don't forget that."
Declan, who had been silent until now, leaned forward in his chair, his expression unreadable. "We can't afford any more slips." His voice was calm, but there was a cold weight behind his words. "She doesn't need to know about our dark world. Not now. Maybe not ever."
Zayn let out a long breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "When the time comes, we'll tell her," he said quietly. "But not soon."
The room fell silent again, heavy with unspoken truths.
Then Zayn's voice dropped into a whisper, colder and more serious than any of them had heard before. "From now on, we don't speak about the mafia in this house. No one." He glanced at each of his brothers before turning back to the closed office door, his jaw tightening.
"No talk about torture." His gaze flicked to Massimo. "No blood." He looked at Jaxon. "No details about what you do to make our enemies fess up." And then, finally, his eyes landed on Vale, sharp and accusing. "Especially you."
Vale shifted uncomfortably, but Zayn wasn't finished.
"For her," Zayn continued, his voice unwavering, "we're businessmen. We own hotels, clubs, oil companies — all of it true. That's the side of the business she'll know." His eyes darkened. "The other side stays buried. Understood?"
One by one, the brothers nodded. Even Vale looked serious, his usual cockiness gone.
Massimo leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. "She sees the good in people," he said softly. "Maybe... for once, we let her believe in it."
The room settled into a tense silence, the weight of their unspoken promise hanging over them. Whatever darkness they carried, whatever blood stained their hands — Ivy would never know.
Not if they could help it.